The Fourth Test turned to be an anticlimax with the match ending in a tame draw. Major highlights of the game was the individual scores of 150 from Sachin and the come back man Sehwag in the first and second innings respectively. It was a great bowling effort from Ishant sharma. Though not for wickets but it was great to see the pace at which he bowled and the line he maintained. He looks to be a very good one day bowler as well. Bhajji was especially disappointing in the entire series successful enough just to pick up Ricky Ponting’s wickets. Though the official score line reads 2-1 in favour of the Aussies, for any Indian Fan it would mean 1-1 , but for the Sydney test which the umpires ruined. Who knows it could have been 2-1 in favour of India if the umpires allowed us to snap Symonds early. “Oh what a miss”. This should have been a series victory for India.
The Chief villain in the series for India has been not the players but the BCCI. First they did not allow India much of practice by not giving them enough practice matches. This showed in the way they played at Melbourne and lost it. Our Players did not get any time to get acclimatised to the conditions. Then the ODI team was announced just before the start of the all crucial fifth test. Dropping of Dravid and Ganguly had its effect on their performances in the final test.
Kumble faulted on a couple of instances. Agreed Yuvraj came into Australia as the Batsman in form and hence he had to accommodated into the playing eleven and to do that Dravid had to open. The Logic appeared perfect. But looking at the way the Melbourne test progressed,Dravid got bogged out and appeared to be a reluctant opener. Also Yuvraj had problem picking brad Hogg let alone lee or Johnson. He just wasted a golden opportunity created specially for him. Trying out this strategy again at Sydney was a big mistake. Talking about Sehwag, He was one player who lost out of form in One dayers but was never so in Test Matches. The Selectors failed to look into into this aspect and dropped him both from One Day and Tests. His Average of 49 in test is no mean feat. Leaving him out in Melbourne and Sydney was again which we could have well avoided.
Jaffer(49 Runs, Avg 8.16),Dhoni (141 Runs,Avg 17.62),Bhajji(8 Wkts),Yuvraj(17 Runs, Avg 4.25) were the super flops of the series.Dravid(237 Runs,Avg 33),Ganguly(235 Runs,Avg 29),Laxman(366 Runs,Avg 45)RP(13 Wkts)chipped in with decent performances while Kumble(20 Wkts),Sachin(493 Runs,Avg 70) were just outstanding performers of the series
While the 2003 tour saw the departure of Steve Waugh from international series, this series saw Adam Gilchrist bidding adieu to the international arena. The timing of the departure seems to have taken everyone by surprise. Though he claims to be the lack of form and not getting young enough as the primary reasons, somewhere down the line he is hurt at Michael Clark being appointed as the future successor of Ricky pointing. One cannot miss to see that though Gilly has served Cricket Australia for all these years but was never given the opportunity to lead this great side.
Overall it was a fantastic series for India. No one gave them a chance. But the players showed that the Aussies can be beaten too. Hats off to kumble to leading the side remarkably. The focus now shifts to the more exciting ODI Series. Over to you Mr Dhoni
